• What if…

    Date: 2014.02.28 | Category: Cassie, Thoughts to ponder | Tags:

    I started this draft long ago and just never finished it.  It’s been sitting there in the draft file for a long time, but after a recent talk with Cassie it got me to thinking about this subject again.  Cassie has been asked over and over again in college “What is your go to drink to get drunk?”   She is amazed at how often college students talk about drinking, getting drunk, and partying.  When they talk about issues that they think are big issues, Cassie brings up orphans and some of the stories she has heard.  Their response every single time is….”That can’t be true!”

    She loves her big family and all her siblings.  Cassie feels blessed to be able to care for them and to live at home.  When others ask her why she still lives at home, her response is, “You have no idea how wonderful it is to have five little people run to the back door to greet you when you get home.  They shout your name, they surround you with hugs, they love you with all their hearts, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

    cass & kids

    Cassie even had a teacher congratulate her for creating and maintaining a “personal identity” despite her family.  This, of course, was said with great sarcasm along with “it’s good that you seem to have your own identity outside of being on call for your family. You deserve to live and grow and develop yourself, and not in your family.”

    I love what my children have learned from living with Codey and his special needs.  I love what my children have learned from our adoptions.  I love their hearts and their love and trust of God and His perfect plan.

    All of this got me to thinking what kind of world would we live in if we only….

    TAUGHT OUR CHILDREN….

    to be world changers.

    to embrace the uncomfortable.

    to live simply and with purpose.

    to help when they saw a person who was failing or falling.

    to put others first.

    to pray for others including those who hurt us.

    to not speak unless their words were uplifting and encouraging and filled with love.

    WHAT IF OUR CHILDREN…

    didn’t think the best thing about growing up was moving out, going to college and partying?

    spent their time finding their passion and their purpose to do all they could for God?

    dreamed about the day when they’d be old enough to adopt or foster?

    worried about the poor people in their hometown?

    couldn’t wait to volunteer to mow a widow’s lawn or cook a meal for the hungry or help out at a shelter?

    truly knew what it was like to live in a third world country?

    didn’t always dream of the next big toy, but instead dreamed of funding wells, buying mosquito nets, providing food rations, sponsoring surgeries?

    their hearts were really broken for the hurting in this world?

    strive to have a relationship with Christ,  a real relationship?

    WHAT IF OUR CHURCH FAMILY…

    truly supported those who wanted to adopt? Stepped up to help families with the costs?   (All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. – Acts 2:44-45 NIV)

    felt honored to help those in need.  (Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  – Duteronomy 15:10 NIV)

    thought the most wonderful thing you could say was “I have helped others adopt 10, 20, or more children. I have practiced true religion. (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 NIV)

    gathered together to help the widows? (Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. – 1 Timothy 5:3 NIV.)

    truly believed their blessings were gifts from God and couldn’t wait to share them with others?  (And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. – Hebrews 13:16 NIV)

    first thought was not to pass judgment but to love as Christ loved us?  (“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34 NIV)

    not only read God’s commands in the Bible but truly followed them?  (Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. – James 1:22 NIV)

    WHAT IF…

    our main goal in life wasn’t a better car, a bigger house, a nicer vacation, or retiring when we are 50?

    we knew how much we had and didn’t need more?

    we truly couldn’t wait to share our blessings?

    we finally decided this life wasn’t about us?

    we found the true meaning to joy and happiness.

    WHAT IF….